U.S. patent application number 12/158537 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-01 for modular cooling system and refrigeration device for such a system.
This patent application is currently assigned to AIRBUS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH. Invention is credited to Ahmet Kayihan Kiryaman, Thomas Scherer, Matthias Witschke.
Application Number | 20090000328 12/158537 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37944704 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090000328 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Scherer; Thomas ; et
al. |
January 1, 2009 |
Modular Cooling System and Refrigeration Device for Such a
System
Abstract
The invention relates to a cooling system (20) for an aircraft,
comprising a number of refrigeration devices (1) which produce
refrigeration and transmit this refrigeration to a cooling medium,
and a circuit (21), containing at least one refrigeration consumer
(22), for the cooling medium, for supplying the refrigeration
consumer(s) (22) with refrigeration. Each refrigeration device (1)
is a modular unit coupled to the circuit (21) and having a pump
(10), which conveys the cooling medium through the circuit
(21).
Inventors: |
Scherer; Thomas; (Hamburg,
DE) ; Witschke; Matthias; (Hamburg, DE) ;
Kiryaman; Ahmet Kayihan; (Hamburg, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CARTER, DELUCA, FARRELL & SCHMIDT, LLP
445 BROAD HOLLOW ROAD, SUITE 420
MELVILLE
NY
11747
US
|
Assignee: |
AIRBUS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
Hamburg
DE
|
Family ID: |
37944704 |
Appl. No.: |
12/158537 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
December 5, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2006/011687 |
371 Date: |
August 4, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/335 ; 62/239;
62/527; 62/529 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B64D 2013/0629 20130101;
F25B 25/005 20130101; F25B 2400/06 20130101; Y02T 50/50 20130101;
B64D 13/00 20130101; Y02T 50/56 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/335 ; 62/529;
62/527; 62/239 |
International
Class: |
F25B 7/00 20060101
F25B007/00; F25D 3/00 20060101 F25D003/00; F25B 41/06 20060101
F25B041/06; B60H 1/32 20060101 B60H001/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 22, 2005 |
DE |
10 2005 061 599.6 |
Claims
1. Modular cooling system for an aircraft, comprising: a plurality
of refrigeration devices which produce refrigeration and transmit
this refrigeration to a cooling medium, and a circuit for the
cooling medium, having a plurality of refrigeration consumers, to
supply the refrigeration consumers with refrigeration, wherein each
refrigeration device coupled to the circuit is a modular unit,
having at least one pump which conveys the cooling medium through
the circuit, wherein the number of modular refrigeration devices is
adapted to the refrigeration requirement of the system, and wherein
the refrigeration devices are connected to the circuit in
parallel.
2. Modular cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the modular
cooling system includes at least two refrigeration devices
connected to the circuit in parallel for supplying the circuit with
cooling medium.
3. Modular cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the
refrigeration consumers are connected to the circuit in
parallel.
4. Modular cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the circuit
comprises a conduit system, wherein each refrigeration consumer has
an inlet for receiving cooling medium from the circuit and an
outlet for discharging cooling medium into the circuit.
5. Modular cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the circuit
is provided with a bypass device bypassing the refrigeration
consumer(s).
6. Modular cooling system according claim 1, wherein it includes a
reservoir for the cooling medium connected to the circuit on a
return side of the circuit.
7. Modular cooling system according to claim 6, wherein the
reservoir is not part of one of the modular refrigeration
devices.
8. Modular cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling
system includes a second circuit for a cooling medium hydraulically
separate from the first circuit and contains at least one
refrigeration consumer, for supplying the refrigeration consumer(s)
with refrigeration, and in that the modular refrigeration devices
are also connected to the second circuit in parallel.
9. Modular cooling system according to claim 1, wherein at least
one control unit is provided for regulating the cooling system such
that one or more refrigeration devices are switched on or off in
dependence upon the refrigeration requirement of the system.
10. Modular cooling system according to claim 1, wherein at least
one control unit is provided for regulating the cooling system such
that one or more of the pumps are switched on or off in dependence
upon the circulation requirement of the system.
11. Modular refrigeration device for a cooling system in an
aircraft, comprising: refrigeration means, a device for
transmitting refrigeration produced to a cooling medium, the
refrigeration transmission device comprising at least one heat
exchanger, by means of which the cooling medium is brought into
thermal contact with the refrigeration produced, and a pump for
conveying the cooling medium through the heat exchanger, wherein
the refrigeration device is constructed for coupling to a circuit
of a cooling system having a plurality of refrigeration consumers,
wherein the pump for conveying the cooling medium forms a modular
unit together with the refrigeration means in order to supply the
circuit of the cooling system with refrigeration as a modular
refrigeration device, wherein the modular refrigeration device is
constructed for adaptation to the refrigeration requirement of the
system such that a plurality thereof is connected to the circuit in
parallel.
12. Modular refrigeration device according to claim 11, wherein the
refrigeration transmission device has an inlet which conducts the
cooling medium to the heat exchanger, and an outlet which conducts
the cooling medium out of the heat exchanger, and wherein the inlet
and the outlet are constructed for coupling to the circuit.
13. Modular refrigeration device according to claim 11, wherein the
pump is arranged on the inlet side of the heat exchanger.
14. Modular refrigeration device according to claim 11, wherein the
refrigeration transmission device has a second heat exchanger, by
means of which the cooling medium is brought into thermal contact
with the refrigeration produced, a second inlet which conducts the
cooling medium to the second heat exchanger, and a second outlet
which conducts the cooling medium out of the second heat exchanger,
wherein the second inlet and the second outlet are constructed for
coupling to the second circuit.
15. Modular refrigeration device according to claim 14, wherein a
second pump is provided for conveying the cooling medium through
the second heat exchanger.
16. Modular refrigeration device according to claim 15, wherein the
second pump is arranged on the inlet side of the second heat
exchanger.
17. Modular refrigeration device according to claim 11, wherein the
heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger is part of a
refrigerating agent evaporator of the refrigeration means.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a cooling system for an aircraft
and a refrigeration device for such a cooling system.
[0002] In the interior of aircraft, a multitude of technical
devices is provided which produce heat and which need to be cooled
to guarantee a safe mode of operation. Moreover, in the interior of
aircraft there are also various enclosed spaces, so-called
compartments, which need to be tempered to temperatures below the
cabin temperature. Therefore various cooling systems are provided
in contemporary aircraft.
[0003] From patent specifications DE 43 40 317 C2 and US
2003/0042361 A1, cooling systems are known for cooling food, for
example, in an aircraft. In these cooling systems, a central
refrigeration device is provided in an aircraft, which conveys
cooling medium to individual heat exchanger units via a conduit
system. The heat exchanger units are coupled to transport
containers to be cooled via additional conduits in the area of
storage spaces of an onboard kitchen. These cooling systems require
at least one unit to produce the refrigeration and a separate unit
for circulating a refrigerating agent liquid through a pipeline
system in the aircraft. The circulating unit consists of one or
more circulation pumps and an equalising tank.
[0004] However, this prior art has the disadvantage that, in
addition to the refrigeration units, the refrigerating agent liquid
circulating unit, consisting substantially of one or more pumps,
has to be installed in the aircraft. To this end, additional
installation space has to be provided in the aircraft. Moreover,
this prior art provides a single refrigeration conveying unit per
refrigeration circuit, which has to be configured for the greatest
circulation capacity required.
[0005] From patent specification DE 103 61 645 A1, a refrigeration
conveying system is known which is divided into two cooling
circuits. The circuits are thermally coupled to refrigeration
machines, in which the refrigerating medium conducted in the
cooling circuits is cooled. Two circulation pumps are respectively
provided in the two cooling circuits. In this cooling system, all
the refrigeration machines, circulation pumps and reservoirs are
combined into a single central unit which takes over the entire
supply of the refrigerated transport system with cooled cooling
agent.
[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a solution which,
with a simple construction, enables a high degree of flexibility in
respect of installation and adaptation to the existing
refrigeration requirement.
[0007] This object is achieved by a cooling system with the
features of claim 1 and by a refrigeration device according to
claim 11. Further preferred configurations of the invention emerge
from the dependent claims.
[0008] With the present invention, a refrigeration device and a
cooling system are created, which enable a spatial decoupling of
the production and consumption of the refrigeration. This result is
very advantageous because of the large and widely distributed
refrigeration requirements in aircraft, in particular in long-haul
aircraft.
[0009] The cooling system according to the invention has the
advantage that, because of its modularity, it can very easily be
adapted to the different refrigeration requirements of various
cabin configurations. In other words, the number of refrigeration
devices can be flexibly selected in order to cover the overall
refrigeration requirement of all the refrigeration consumers. This
overall refrigeration requirement of the aircraft cooling system is
preferably determined on the ground on a hot and humid day. Because
of its modularity, the cooling system provides great flexibility
with respect to deployment in various aircraft.
[0010] The cooling system according to the invention has the
further advantage that the refrigeration capacity of the system can
be adapted to the current refrigeration requirement in partial-load
operation, in that one or more refrigeration devices can be
switched on or off.
[0011] According to the invention, the cooling system comprises a
number of refrigeration devices which produce refrigeration and
transfer this refrigeration to a cooling medium, and a circuit for
the cooling medium, containing at least one refrigeration consumer,
for supplying the refrigeration consumer(s) with refrigeration.
Each refrigeration device is a modular unit which is coupled to the
circuit and has a pump which conveys the cooling medium through the
circuit. The number of modular refrigeration devices is adapted to
the refrigeration requirement of the system, wherein the
refrigeration devices are connected to the circuit in parallel.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this cooling
system includes at least two refrigeration devices which are
coupled to the circuit to supply the circuit with refrigeration.
The at least two refrigeration devices are preferably connected to
the circuit in parallel. The refrigeration consumers are likewise
also preferably connected to the circuit in parallel.
[0013] The cooling medium is typically a liquid and the circuit
comprises a conduit system through which the cooling medium can
flow. In a preferred embodiment of this cooling system, each
refrigeration consumer has an inlet for receiving cooling medium
from the circuit and an outlet for discharging cooling medium into
the circuit.
[0014] According to a preferred configuration of the cooling system
according to the invention, the circuit is provided with a bypass
device bypassing the refrigeration consumer(s). This enables
constant circulation of the cooling medium in the circuit.
[0015] The cooling system preferably further includes a reservoir
for the cooling medium, which is connected to the circuit,
preferably on a return side of the circuit. The reservoir serves to
compensate thermal expansion of the cooling medium and provides a
reserve in the event of leakage.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cooling
system has a second circuit for the cooling medium, containing at
least one refrigeration consumer, to supply the refrigeration
consumer(s) with refrigeration, wherein the at least one
refrigeration device is also coupled to the second circuit. The two
circuits are typically hydraulically separate. In this way, one
refrigeration device with a compressor can cool several
circuits.
[0017] According to a further form of the invention a refrigeration
device for a cooling system in an aircraft is provided, comprising
refrigeration means which produces refrigeration, a device for
transferring the refrigeration produced to a cooling medium,
wherein the refrigeration device comprises at least one heat
exchanger by means of which the cooling medium is brought into
thermal contact with the refrigeration produced, and a pump for
conveying the cooling medium through the heat exchanger. The
refrigeration device is constructed for coupling to a circuit of a
cooling system, and the pump for conveying the cooling medium,
together with the refrigeration means, forms a modular unit in
order to supply the circuit of the cooling system with
refrigeration as a modular refrigeration device. The modular
refrigeration device is constructed for adaptation to the
refrigeration requirement of the system such that it is connected
in a multiple to the circuit in parallel.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the refrigeration device, the
refrigeration transfer device has an inlet which conducts the
cooling medium to the heat exchanger and an outlet which conducts
the cooling medium out of the heat exchanger. The inlet and the
outlet of the refrigeration transfer device are constructed for
coupling to the circuit and the pump is preferably arranged on the
inlet side of the heat exchanger. It is possible, though, for the
pump to be arranged on the outlet side of the heat exchanger.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the refrigeration device, the
refrigeration transfer device has a second heat exchanger, by means
of which the cooling medium is brought into thermal contact with
the refrigeration produced. Correspondingly, the refrigeration
transfer device has a second inlet which conducts the cooling
medium to the second heat exchanger; and a second outlet which
conducts the cooling medium from the second heat exchanger, wherein
the second inlet and the second outlet are constructed for coupling
to the second circuit. The refrigeration device preferably has a
second pump to convey the cooling medium through the second heat
exchanger, which is advantageously arranged on the outlet side of
the second heat exchanger.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the refrigeration device, the
heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger is part of a
refrigerating agent evaporator of the refrigeration device, whereby
the refrigeration is transferred to the cooling medium.
[0021] Further preferred configurations of the invention emerge
from the dependent claims and the following description of
embodiments examples, which is carried out with reference to the
attached figures, components with identical or similar functions
being identified with the same reference symbols.
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a refrigeration
device in a cooling system.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a cooling system
according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a cooling system
according to another embodiment of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a simple embodiment example of a refrigeration
device 1, which contains refrigeration means 2 in the form of a
conventional compression refrigerating machine. This compression
refrigerating machine consists of at least a refrigerating agent
compressor 3, a condenser 4, an expansion valve 5 and an evaporator
6. The compression refrigerating machine produces refrigeration in
a manner known per se, in that a gaseous refrigerating agent is
compressed by the compressor 3 and condensed in the condenser 4.
The heat removed from the refrigerating agent in the condenser is
given off to a medium 7, such as, e.g. air, which is conveyed
through the condenser 4 by means of a fan 8. The condensed liquid
refrigerating agent then flows through the expansion valve 5,
wherein it expands and thereby undergoes a phase change back into a
gas in conjunction with a sharp drop in temperature. The cooled
refrigerating agent, again at least partly gaseous, then flows into
an evaporator 6, in which the phase change is completed and
simultaneously the refrigeration produced is transmitted to a
cooling medium.
[0026] The evaporator 6 comprises a heat exchanger, by means of
which the cooling medium can be brought into thermal contact with
the refrigeration produced. The heat exchanger thus functions as a
refrigeration transmission device. The heat exchanger or evaporator
6 has a conduit 9 which forms a closed (i.e. hydraulically
separate) flow-through route through the evaporator 6 for the
cooling medium, in order to transfer as much of the refrigeration
produced as possible to the cooling medium. This conduit 9 has an
inlet 9a into the refrigeration device which directs the cooling
medium to the heat exchanger 6, and an outlet 9b out of the
refrigeration device which directs the cooling medium out of the
heat exchanger 6. As described below, the inlet 9a and the outlet
9b are constructed for coupling to a circuit. Integrated into the
refrigeration device 1 is a pump 10 for conveying the cooling
medium through the heat exchanger 6 which is installed on the inlet
side of the heat exchanger 6, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0027] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the refrigeration device 1 forms
part of a modular cooling system 20. The refrigeration device 1
with its integrated pump 10 is coupled via its inlet 9a and its
outlet 9b to a circuit 21 of the cooling system 20. The circuit 21,
consisting of a conduit system, contains at least one refrigeration
consumer 22 and conveys the cooling medium to the refrigeration
consumer 22. The "refrigeration consumer" 22 is a general
representation of an enclosed space in the interior of an aircraft,
which needs to be tempered to a temperature below the cabin
temperature, or of a technical device which produces heat and has
to be cooled to guarantee a safe mode of operation.
[0028] The cooling medium is circulated in the closed circuit 21 in
the aircraft by means of the pump 10 integrated into the
refrigeration device 1. The refrigeration consumer 22, like all
potential refrigeration consumers in the aircraft, uses the cooling
medium circulated in the circuit 21 as a heat sink. As shown in
FIG. 1, this is implemented, e.g. by a secondary refrigeration
conveying system in which by means of a heat-transmitter/fan
configuration 23, 24, refrigeration is transmitted from the cooling
medium to another medium, preferably air. By means of a valve 25,
the refrigeration consumer 22 can continuously or discretely
regulate the stream of cooling medium through the heat-transmitter
23 and can thereby adapt the refrigeration capacity gained from the
system to its present refrigeration requirement. In other words, if
the refrigeration requirement in the refrigeration consumer 22
drops, the valve 25 can be closed in regulated manner, in order to
allow less cooling medium into the refrigeration consumer 22.
Additionally, the temperature conditions in the refrigeration
consumer can be set by regulating the speed of the fan.
[0029] The cooling system 20 shown in FIG. 1 further comprises at
least one reservoir 26 which, at a suitable place in the aircraft,
is preferably connected to the return line of the cooling medium
circuit 21. The thermal expansion and leakage of the cooling medium
are compensated by the reservoir 26.
[0030] As mentioned above, FIG. 1 shows a simple example to
illustrate the main principle of the invention, namely the spatial
decoupling of the production and the consumption of the
refrigeration in an aircraft cooling system. The refrigeration and
circulation functions are combined in individual refrigeration
devices, which can be multiply employed corresponding to the
refrigeration requirement in the aircraft. This becomes clearer
from the embodiment example shown in FIG. 2.
[0031] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment variant of the cooling system
which illustrates the inventive concept more clearly. The cooling
system 20 shown in FIG. 2 has three refrigeration devices 1
connected to the circuit 21 in parallel. The circuit 21 again
consists of a conduit system with a supply side 27 and a return
side 28. On the supply side 27, the outlet 9b of each refrigeration
device 1 is connected to a junction 29 and on the return side 28 of
the circuit 21 the inlet 9a of each refrigeration device 1 is
connected to a junction 30.
[0032] In this schematic illustration, it can be clearly seen that
each refrigeration device 1 forms a modular unit with an integrated
circulation pump 10, which is connected to the conduit system of
the circuit 21 in parallel, and that the number of refrigeration
devices 1 can be selected in such a way that the aircraft-specific
refrigeration requirement is catered for. In the present case, the
circuit 21 contains three refrigeration consumers 22, which are
again connected to the circuit 21 in parallel. At both ends of the
circuit 21 a bypass device 31 is installed bypassing the
refrigeration consumers, ensuring constant circulation of the
cooling medium in the circuit, even when all the refrigeration
consumers 22 close their regulating valves 25 and do not allow any
cooling medium through. The circuit 21 can also be constructed
without bypass devices 31 if, for example, the regulating valves 25
of the refrigeration consumers cannot completely close, defaulted
structurally or by software.
[0033] The circulating pumps 10 integrated in the refrigeration
devices 1 include non-return valves, whereby the flow of the
cooling medium is only permitted in the conveying direction and no
return flow takes place if a circulation pump 10 fails. As in the
first embodiment example, the conduit system of the circuit 21 has
at least one reservoir 26, preferably on the return line 28, which
compensates for thermal expansion and leakage of the cooling
medium.
[0034] In the cooling system illustrated in FIG. 2, the failure of
one or two refrigeration devices 1 cannot result in total loss of
the refrigeration capacity of the entire system, as long as at
least one refrigeration device 1 is still functioning. The
refrigeration capacity and the pump capacity of the individual
refrigeration devices 1 can be regulated by a central control unit
or by local regulators, in order in particular to adapt the
refrigeration capacity and/or the pump capacity to the current
refrigeration or circulation requirement in part-load
operation.
[0035] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment example of an aircraft
cooling system 20, in which the refrigeration devices 1 have a
modified configuration. Each of the two refrigeration devices 1 has
two heat exchangers 6, 6' for transmitting the refrigeration
produced to a cooling medium and is respectively equipped with two
circulation pumps 10, 10', each of which conveys the cooling medium
through the associated heat exchangers 6, 6'. The refrigeration
devices 1 have conduits 9, 9' which conduct the cooling medium
through the heat exchangers 6, 6', wherein each of the conduits 9,
9' provides an inlet 9a, 9a' into the refrigeration device and an
outlet 9b, 9b' out of the refrigeration device. As in the earlier
embodiment examples, the inlets 9a, 9a' and the outlets 9b, 9b' are
constructed for coupling to a circuit. In this embodiment, the two
refrigeration devices 1 are connected to the two separate cooling
medium circuits 21, 21' in parallel.
[0036] The two circuits 21, 21' are hydraulically separate from one
another and contain three refrigeration consumers 22 or 22' in each
case. In the cooling system 20 shown in FIG. 3, the failure of one
refrigeration device 1 also does not result in complete loss of the
refrigeration capacity of the entire system, as long as at least
one refrigeration device 1 is still functioning.
[0037] The two circuits 21, 21' again have a reservoir 26, 26' on
the return conduit 28, 28', with which the thermal expansion and
leakage of the cooling medium are compensated. Bypass devices 31,
31' are likewise installed at both ends of each circuit 21, 21' to
ensure permanent circulation of the refrigerating agent in the
circuit.
[0038] Among the many advantages of the present invention, great
flexibility in respect of installation of the system components and
great modularity in respect of adaptation of the installed
refrigeration capacity to the refrigeration requirement of
different aircraft cabin configurations are particularly worthy of
mention. The cooling system provides increased efficiency in
part-load operation through the option of switching off one or more
refrigeration devices, if they are not needed to cover the
momentary refrigeration requirement or the momentary circulation
requirement. In this way, the cooling system according to the
invention also affords reduced electric power consumption and thus
reduced fuel consumption of the aircraft.
* * * * *